Advocates for Victims of Violence

What Advocates for Victims of Violence does

Advocates for Victims of Violence, Inc. (AVV) is an Alaska-based 501(c)-class nonprofit organization founded in 1981 and headquartered in Valdez, Alaska. The organization provides confidential direct services to victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across 17+ communities in the Prince William Sound and Copper River Valley regions, including Chistochina, Chitina, Copper Center, Glennallen, Gulkana, Valdez, and surrounding villages. Its service portfolio includes a 24/7 crisis line (now supplemented by two additional phone lines due to demand), emergency shelter for women and children, crisis intervention, legal advocacy for protective orders and custody, case management, children's programs, and specialized services for male victims and for people with disabilities through the Disability Abuse Response Team (DART). AVV also runs primary prevention programs such as Girls on the Run, the Lead ON youth engagement initiative, and the Valdez Prevention Coalition, and delivers training to schools, medical professionals, and community organizations.

AVV's underlying infrastructure is service-delivery-oriented rather than technology-product-oriented: it relies on a crisis line telephone system, case management systems for victim services, a physical shelter, and a distributed volunteer network of 50+ individuals per year. The organization is a member of the Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), a statewide consortium of 18 member programs, and is primarily funded by the Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (CDVSA) state agency, Valdez United Way, and Providence Health and Services Alaska.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure combining government grants (CDVSA crisis intervention, perpetrator accountability, and prevention funding, plus shelter grants), individual donations, annual membership fees, corporate and foundation support, and event-based fundraising (the Snow Town Ice Classic raffle, the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes march, and the Women of Distinction awards banquet). Services are delivered free of charge to clients; there is no commercial pricing model. Governance is provided by a 7-member Board of Directors and a 5-person operational leadership team led by Executive Director Rowena Palomar.

Name

Advocates for Victims of Violence

Legal name

Advocates for Victims of Violence, Inc.

Website

https://avvalaska.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Advocates for Victims of Violence is a 1981-founded Alaska nonprofit providing 24/7 crisis intervention, shelter, legal advocacy, and prevention services to domestic violence and sexual assault survivors across 17+ communities in the Prince William Sound and Copper River Valley region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Victim Advocacy Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Protection, Child Protection & Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response (BPAGAAAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Protection Services (GBV, Child Protection, Legal Aid) (BPADADAH)

Keywords

• Domestic violence services
• Sexual assault advocacy
• Crisis intervention services
• Victim advocacy
• Violence prevention programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Valdez

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Grants and Government Funding: Primary funding from CDVSA (Council on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault) and membership in ANDVSA statewide consortium. State agency funding for crisis intervention, perpetrator accountability, and prevention services.
2. Donations and Membership: Individual donations, membership fees (yearly), and memorial contributions like the Jennie Needles Memorial Fresh Start Fund. Members receive quarterly newsletter and can voice concerns to board.
3. Event Fundraising: Snow Town Ice Classic raffle with $5 tickets - proceeds split 50/50 between winner and AVV. 2025 payout was $3,845. Also includes Walk a Mile in Her Shoes events and Women of Distinction banquet.
4. Corporate and Foundation Support: Funding from Valdez United Way, Providence Health and Services Alaska, and other corporate sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AVV provides confidential 24-hour crisis intervention, emergency shelter for women and children, legal advocacy (protective orders, custody), case management, and children's programs to victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across the Prince William Sound and Copper River Valley of Alaska. The organization also delivers primary prevention programming, community training, and specialized services including the Disability Abuse Response Team (DART) and emergency assistance for male victims.

Product overview

Advocates for Victims of Violence (AVV) is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of victim advocacy services rather than a software product. The organization provides crisis intervention through its 24-hour crisis line and shelter, legal advocacy, case management, children programs, and disability-specific services (DART). Prevention programming includes youth-focused initiatives like Girls on the Run, the Valdez Prevention Coalition, and Lead ON youth engagement. Community education and training covers domestic violence, sexual assault, teen dating violence, and suicide prevention. AVV also operates signature fundraising events including the annual Women of Distinction awards, Walk A Mile in Her Shoes march, and Snow Town Ice Classic raffle. Services are geographically focused on the Prince William Sound and Copper River Valley regions of Alaska, with statewide resources coordinated through ANDVSA membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fresh Start Fund: A memorial fund established to assist AVV participants with critical needs related to establishing a fresh start free from violence, including legal fees and purchase of items to set up a new home. Up to $500 can be allocated per participant.
• Women of Distinction
• Snow Town Ice Classic
• Walk a Mile in Her Shoes
• Girls on the Run

Products and services

• 24-Hour Crisis Line 24-hour telephone crisis line providing immediate confidential support, safety planning, and intervention for victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across the Prince William Sound and Copper River Valley.
• 24-Hour Shelter Emergency shelter services for victims/survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault and their children, providing a safe environment with play areas, school transportation assistance, and case management while they make decisions about next steps.
• Legal Advocacy Assistance navigating the legal system for survivors, including help with protective orders, custody and visitation arrangements, and court proceedings.
• Case Management & Advocacy Dedicated case managers provide referrals to community services and ongoing advocacy support as survivors explore options and rebuild their lives.
• Children's Programs Specially trained staff help children who have witnessed or experienced violence process what they have seen and heard, providing a stable environment with play areas, school transportation assistance, and age-appropriate support.
• Disability Abuse Response Team (DART) A multi-disciplinary team dedicated to aiding people with disabilities who are victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault, in partnership with Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Connecting Ties Inc, Frontier Community Services, Providence Valdez Counseling Center, Sound View Apartments, Valdez Food Bank, and Valdez Native Tribe Victim Services.
• Emergency Assistance for Male Victims Emergency assistance services specifically designed for male victims of violence, addressing a documented gap in regional resources.
• Crisis Intervention & In-Service Training Programs Training programs for school personnel, students, medical professionals, and private organizations covering the impact of family violence, prevention strategies, suicide prevention, teen dating violence, and child abuse reporting requirements.
• Sexual Assault Support Services Comprehensive post-sexual-assault care including response guidelines, medical care coordination, police reporting assistance, evidence collection resources (IWantTheKit.org), follow-up care, and the What Were You Wearing? Expo.
• Primary Prevention Programs Community-based violence prevention initiatives including youth engagement strategies, the Valdez Prevention Coalition, and primary prevention programming intended to stop violence before it starts.
• Girls on the Run A free program for girls in 3rd–6th grade that focuses on fostering healthy self-esteem and friendships while training for a 5K, promoting healthy mind, body, and spirit.
• Lead ON Program A youth engagement strategy for peace and equality that identifies and trains key opinion leaders to change social norms and behaviors, grounded in behavior change theory and diffusion of innovation principles.
• Support Groups Peer support groups for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, providing shared experiences and mutual support.
• Jennie Needles Memorial Fresh Start Fund A fund assisting AVV participants with critical needs related to establishing a fresh start free from violence, including legal fees and items to set up a new home, with up to $500 allocated per participant and managed by the Executive Director.
• Snow Town Ice Classic An annual fundraising raffle in partnership with the City of Valdez since 2014; participants buy $5 tickets and guess when a tower will drop into Ruth Pond, with proceeds split 50/50 between the winner and AVV (2025 payout was $3,845).
• Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® An annual awareness march hosted by AVV since 2010 to raise awareness about men's sexualized violence, part of the international Walk A Mile in Her Shoes® movement.
• Women of Distinction Awards Banquet An annual awards banquet recognizing exceptional community members for their contributions, including the Bette Cato Inspirational Award and Bette Cato Rising Star Award.

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• City of ValdezcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Partnered since 2014 to host the Snow Town Ice Classic event. City provides support through Parks and Recreation for the annual tower drop event at Ruth Pond.
• Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1981AVV is a member of ANDVSA, a statewide consortium of 18 member programs providing safety to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault across Alaska. ANDVSA provides a wide range of up-to-date information on issues affecting the state.
• Providence Health and Services AlaskamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider partner offering medical services and support for victims. Includes Providence Valdez Medical Center and Providence Valdez Counseling Center.
• DART Team Partners (Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Connecting Ties Inc, Frontier Community Services, Providence Valdez Counseling Center, Sound View Apartments, Valdez Food Bank, Valdez Native Tribe Victim Services)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisability Abuse Response Team (DART) is a multi-disciplinary group aiding people with disabilities who are victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault. Funded with support from CDVSA.
• Valdez Prevention CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity coalition of proactive leaders including counseling center, city government, police force, local businesses, and community members working to build comprehensive prevention plans to prevent first-time victimization and perpetration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network): Largest national anti-sexual violence organization operating the National Sexual Assault Hotline and providing victim services and public education. Directly comparable to AVV's sexual assault mission at significantly larger national scale.
• YWCA: National nonprofit with local chapters providing domestic violence services, shelter, and advocacy across the U.S. Broader mission portfolio but directly comparable DV service lines to AVV.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: National 24/7 crisis line and resource hub for domestic violence victims, federally funded with broader geographic reach. Overlaps directly with AVV's crisis line service, operating at much larger national scale.
• Futures Without Violence: National health and social justice organization addressing domestic violence through policy, training, and prevention programming. Direct overlap with AVV's prevention and training programs at national scale.
• National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV): National advocacy organization focused on public policy, awareness, and coalition-building for domestic violence victims. AVV's advocacy and prevention mission aligns with NCADV's work at the federal and national level.
• Safe Horizon: Large New York-based nonprofit providing domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking services. Comparable service lines at significantly larger urban scale than AVV.

Direct peers

• AWAIC (Abused Women's Aid in Crisis): Anchorage-based Alaska nonprofit providing emergency shelter, crisis line, advocacy, and support services for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. Closest direct Alaska-based comparable to AVV in service scope and operational model.
• LeeShore Center: Kenai Peninsula-based Alaska nonprofit offering domestic violence and sexual assault services including shelter, advocacy, and prevention. Direct Alaska regional DV/SA service provider comparable to AVV.
• Standing Together Against Rape (STAR): Alaska statewide sexual assault resource center providing crisis intervention, advocacy, prevention education, and training. Directly overlaps with AVV's sexual assault service lines within the same operating environment.
• Alaska Family Services: Alaska-based nonprofit offering domestic violence and sexual assault services across multiple regions of the state. Comparable direct service model operating in the same Alaskan nonprofit ecosystem as AVV.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/advocatesforvictimsofviolence
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/advocates-for-victims-of-violence-incorporated

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advocates for Victims of Violence